2.
Earth Negotiations Bulletin .................................. Thursday, 31 May 2012 Vol. 27 No. 37 Page 2transport and development of sustainable transport systems, and integrating social and environmental costs into decision-makingintroduced elements of a Mexican proposal on non-motorized and partnerships, the US, the EU, CANADA and the REPUBLICmobility in the section on cities. Co-Chair Ashe said informal OF KOREA said they could go along with current text withconsultations will be facilitated as follows: agriculture and food minor adjustments. The G-77/CHINA preferred a full quotationsecurity (US); desertification (Australia); chemicals and waste of Rio Principle 2 on sovereign rights of states to exploit their(Mexico); oceans (Australia); education (EU); mining (Canada); own resources.water (Iceland); climate change (Barbados); disaster risk The G-77/CHINA added a paragraph recognizing that strongreduction (Japan); gender (Norway); and SIDS and other regions and urgent action on SCP patterns is fundamental and, in text(Monaco). recognizing the power of communications technology, called for Major Groups: CHILDREN AND YOUTH said all technical cooperation and transfer of technology.jobs can and must be green and contribute to sustainable In text inviting business and industry to take green economydevelopment. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES said their needs should approaches, the G-77/CHINA said this should be in accordancebe incorporated into the mining text. WOMEN said text on with national legislation. NORWAY, AUSTRALIA ande-waste should incorporate the precautionary and polluter pays SWITZERLAND supported referencing the UN Global Compactprinciples and industry contributions should fund clean-up. The principles of corporate social responsibility. The EU preferredNGO Major Group Ocean Cluster highlighted concluding a inclusion of the UN Global Compact in a different manner asnew UNCLOS agreement for the conservation and management well as acknowledging the importance of microenterprises.of BBNJ and adopting a timeframe for the elimination of The G-77/CHINA, opposed by JAPAN, suggested reaffirmingharmful fishing subsidies by 2015, among others. FARMERS the objective to promote technology transfer to developingstressed food sovereignty, rural women and artisanal fisheries. countries “on favorable terms, including on concessional andWORKERS and TRADE UNIONS supported just transition preferential terms.” The G-77/CHINA proposed financial supportstrategies. for developing countries to collect data, in relation to text on gathering information and data. The EU said “national effortsWORKING GROUP II by” developing countries “should be supported.” II. RENEWING POLITICAL COMMITMENT: Engaging The EU reserved the right to introduce text, due to the largeMajor Groups and Other Stakeholders: A large number number of amendments that were made to the CST. NORWAYof amendments were submitted by the EU, G-77/CHINA and noted that the entire section failed to reference the fullSWITZERLAND to paragraphs on the participation of the participation of men and women in a green economy.private sector and corporate responsibility, while the US and IV. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FORCANADA voiced preference for the original CST language. The SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IFSD): Most delegationsEU proposed aligning business practices with the UN Global indicated their acceptance of the original text on strengtheningCompact, and the G-77/CHINA, opposed by the US, asked for the three dimensions of sustainable development. Delegatesdeletion of “applying standards” of corporate responsibility and agreed on four subparagraphs in this subsection, including“accountability.” on participation of developing countries in various governing NORWAY proposed developing a transparent global system structures and mechanisms. Language was reopened in theon corporate responsibility, to which MEXICO added “taking process of discussion, however. The G-77/CHINA asked forinto account the needs of developing countries.” The EU replacing “monitoring” in relation to progress in sustainablesuggested that the Secretary-General launch a process to develop development by “follow-up” in several paragraphs, but thea global framework to promote best practices for integrating EU preferred “monitoring.” On public participation, the G-77/sustainability reporting building on existing frameworks. CHINA and the US asked for deletion of an EU amendment on On the contribution of the scientific and technological granting civil society representatives “enhanced consultativecommunity, the G-77/CHINA offered language on closing the status.” The G-77/CHINA bracketed an EU proposal for “atechnological gap between developed and developing countries. mechanism of periodic review” of sustainable developmentThe US, opposed by the G-77/CHINA, added “legally acquired” commitments, suggesting instead language on reviewing progressin relation to sharing of knowledge and information. on commitments to provide financial resources and technology Delegates agreed on text stressing the importance of transfer.participation by young people and workers and trade unions. The Working Group held an initial discussion on ECOSOC,On acknowledging the central role of the UN, the G-77/CHINA with Mexico suggesting specific language to define more focusedsuggested referencing international financial institutions and functions for ECOSOC on sustainable development issues.the importance of cooperation among them, while the US and Delegates also discussed the possible functions of a high-levelEU said this should be “within their respective mandates.” political forum, which could possibly replace the Commission onThe EU, opposed by the US, G-77/CHINA and the RUSSIAN Sustainable Development (CSD).FEDERATION, proposed requesting that the Secretary-General Informal splinter groups reported back on paragraphs.strengthen the capacity of the UN to develop and manage Major Groups: CHILDREN AND YOUTH urged delegatespartnerships. to compromise more, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY focused on III. GREEN ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF the role of the private sector, and NGOs called for a rights-basedSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY approach, including for a healthy environment.ERADICATION: The G-77/CHINA, opposed by theREPUBLIC OF KOREA and SWITZERLAND, called for IN THE CORRIDORSchanging the title to “Framing the Context of the Green Signs of fatigue were visible in negotiations, with someEconomy Challenges and Opportunities as well as Other Visions, participants displaying impatience with the number ofModels and Approaches to Sustainable Development.” amendments introduced at this late stage of negotiations, In text affirming that implementation of a green economy prompting one Chair to call for a break in order to “coolshould be guided by Rio principles, the G-77/CHINA down.” Although some delegations respected the Co-Chair’spreferred references to equity and the principle of CBDR. The admonitions to restrict their “amendment itch,” other delegationsREPUBLIC OF KOREA, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA and seemed invigorated for new battles. While Co-Chair Ashe optedSWITZERLAND preferred CST text. to delegate all sub-sections to smaller groups, Co-Chair Kim The G-77/CHINA suggested respecting national sovereignty openly vented his frustration, commenting on “the mess” someover natural resources. The EU added a sub-paragraph on paragraphs were now in. “You are expected to turn text from arespecting human rights, while the G-77/CHINA added tiger to a lion, but you changed it to a bird.” Some noted thatsub-paragraphs on promoting SCP, avoiding increasing the delegates became more engaged during the evening discussionfinancial burden on developing countries and avoiding the of the possible functions of a high level political forum, which“financialization” of natural resources. some thought was a positive sign of movement on a delicate On paragraphs regarding implementation of green economy issue.as a common undertaking, lowering environmental impacts,